Town exited their local FA knockout competition losing out to a side from Football League Walsall after a penalty shoot-out.
Rob Parker and Kevin Thornton both saw their efforts from twelve yards saved by Saddlers’ keeper Dan Jezeph, meaning it fell to Jordan Sangha to clinch the visitors a place in the next round.
During the game itself, Rugby had more than held their own against generally youthful opposition – which contained a couple of players with first team experience.
Jordan Murphy twice went close for Walsall early on, with first Raaj Gill out quickly to block his effort and then Mason Rowley throwing himself in front of another goalbound strike.
For Valley, Rowley’s diving header to Thorton’s free-kick was just over the bar, and with their best opportunity of the first half, Callum Powell took too long to pull the trigger after David Kolodynski’s clever back-heel had released him – allowing Matt Preston to execute a fine saving tackle.
Amadou Bakayoko twice tested Gill ahead of the interval, whilst at the other end dangerous crosses from debutant Danny Reynolds and Powell both just failed to find their target.
Town had the better of the second period, although the visitors continued to look lively on the quick counter, and Bakayoko should have done better on one such break when his touch let him down with the goal beckoning.
Thornton and Powell both blazed efforts well off-target, before a teasing cross by Kolodynski was headed behind for a corner by Liam Kinsella. Powell and Healy then put further threatening centres into the box - again without picking out a Rugby man.
A late chance for Thornton was deflected into the side netting, signalling the deciding shoot-out in which Kolodynski and Sam Warburton’s converted spot-kicks were outweighed by Walsall’s four in five successes.
Valley
Line-up: Gill; Parker, Warburton, Rowley, Towers; Reynolds (Clifton), Healy (Gray), Thornton, Cartwright; Kolodynski, Powell (Bolton). Subs not used: Brooks, Woods. Booked: Thornton.
Walsall line-up: Jezeph, Kinsella, Smith, Sangha, Preston, Plummer, Oliver, Kouhyar, Bakayoko, Murphy, Owen. Subs: Roberts, King, Vann. |